Leigh Sales biggest hits: Turnbull, Hockey and Abbott in the firing line

Leigh Sales has shown once again she takes no prisoners when going head to head with the country’s leading politicians.

In a vintage Sales interview on the national broadcaster’s 7.30 program last night, the veteran reporter went toe to toe with Malcolm Turnbull over his new plans for Australian citizenship requirements which include an English test, embracing Australian values and a requirement to be a permanent resident for four years.

At one stage, Sales pointed out one of Australia’s most successful business leaders and generous philanthropists, Westfield boss Frank Lowy, barely understood English when he first arrived in the country.

“Is that the sort of Australian we’re happy to miss out on?” she asked the PM.

Forced on the back foot, Mr Turnbull looked increasingly uncomfortable defending the reforms he announced with immigration minister Peter Dutton.

It's not the first time Sales and the prime minister have clashed on the show.

And Turnbull is not the only one.

Just ask former treasurer Joe Hockey. In a controversial post-budget interview in 2015 Sales opened her questioning with: "Is this what a political retreat looks like?"

Ultimately an investigation by the broadcast media regulator - the Australian Communications and Media Authority - cleared Sales of any bias.

She also took former prime minister Tony Abbott to task over the machinations of his gun deal.